Definition of: tympanum

(tim′pə·nəm) noun plural ·na (-nə)
1. Anat. The middle ear; also, the tympanic membrane.
2. Archit. An ornamental space, as over a doorway, bounded by an arch or within the coping of a pediment.
3. A large drum wheel fitted with buckets for raising water from a flowing stream.
4. An ancient form of drum.
5. Electr. The diaphragm in a telephone. Also spelled timpanum. [<NL <L, a drum <Gk. tympanon <typtein beat]